Many in the LGBTQ community said they’ve lost a key member and dear friend.

“He lived to play music and create a safe place for queer people to express themselves and be comfortable to be able to go out and be themselves,” said NaeNae at Scandals in downtown Portland.

“It’s hard for us as queer people to have a space where we can feel safe, and feel loved and have a community. His loss is huge, it’s huge,” said James Dixon, Shroyer’s best friend. “I saw him the day after the attack. It was really disturbing, there were more machines than I could count keeping him alive. He was my best friend, and now he’s gone. The last time I saw him was the night before, he said goodbye and said I love you, and I said I love you too."

On the night of May 6, Shroyer was randomly attacked and stabbed multiple times by Williams at the Pacific Tower Apartments.

“This person chased him to his apartment, he got himself in the door from what I understand. The guy caught up to him and he attacked him and he left him there, then Jacob crawled inside of the building,” said Dixon.

Difficult details to comprehend, but on Wednesday night, Shroyer’s friends were choosing to celebrate his life.

"He knew how to make you let go of who you were or whatever was going on, to let you just dance free," said Ecstasy Inferno, who organized the event at Scandals.

All proceeds from Wednesday's event are going toward Shroyer's medical bills and his funeral services.

At left, Katie Stubblefield at 17, eight months before attempting suicide. At right, Katie at 22, one year and one month after her surgery. Full Credit: Family photo/Martin Schoeller/National Geographic

As Katie Stubblefield brushed her fingers across her face, she could feel the wound.More >

As Katie Stubblefield brushed her fingers across her face, she could feel the wound.More >

Cell phone video captured drivers doing doughnuts around each other Sunday night in the middle of Portland’s Fremont Bridge, stopping traffic headed northbound for about 20 minutes, according to witnesses.

Cell phone video captured drivers doing doughnuts around each other Sunday night in the middle of Portland’s Fremont Bridge, stopping traffic headed northbound for about 20 minutes, according to witnesses.

(John Wilson/KSL-TV/Deseret News via AP). This frame from video shows the scene of a small plane that crashed into a house in Payson, Utah, on Monday, Aug 13, 2018. Authorities said the pilot was killed in the crash.

His wife and a child who were in the home survived despite the front part the two-story house being engulfed in flames.